Rupturable apparatus for sealing fluid system elements



Feb. 2, 1954 c. L. CURTIS 2,667,760

RUPTURABLE APPARATUS FOR SEALING FLUID SYSTEM ELEMENTS Filed July 29, 1949 IN V EN TOR. C'ia r/es A, (Lg/2 1$.

Patented Feb. 2, 1954 RUPTURABLE APPARATUS ,FOR SEALING FLUID SYSTEM ELEMENTS Charles L. Curtis, Pasco, Ohio, assignor to Copeland Refrigeration Corporation, Sidney, Ohio, a corporation of Michigan Y a Application July 29, 1949, Serial No. 107,524

This invention relates generally to sealing means, and is particularly adapted among other 11 Claims. (01. 62-115) designates a fan motor for driving air through uses in connection with the manufacture and assembly of refrigerating mechanisms.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple sealing means for subassemblies of refrigeration mechanisms whereby they may be shipped in a hermetically sealed condition and later assembled together with a minimum of efiort to complete the refrigerating apparatus.

Another object of such invention is to provide such a sealing means which may easily be ruptured and rendered inefiective to seal after assembly of the refrigerating apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a sealing means which may be ruptured subsequent to assembly without requiring any opening of the assembled system.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined valve and seal rupturer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a three-way valve which may have its two outlet ports sealed at the same time for shipping purposes, one of the ports being sealed by means of a frangible seal which is ruptured upon movement of the valve member in a direction to unseal the port closed by the valve member.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the specification, the appended claims and the drawings, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of two elements of a refrigerating system, prior to assembly and embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the elements of Fig. 1 in an assembled relation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a section within the circle A of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the sealing means ruptured; and,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the elements wit in the circle B of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral I indicates generally a condensing unit comprising a motor compressor unit 2 having a discharge service valve 4 connected by means of the conduit 6 to a heat extracting unit or condenser 8. The outlet of the condenser 8 is connected by means of conduit 10 to a liquid line valve I2. The numeral l4 Uponinitial manufacture of the service valve the condenser 8.

An inlet service valve l6 for the unit 2 has a pair of valve-controlled passageways l8 and 20 communicatively connected with each other and with a common passageway 22 in continual open communication with the suction side of the condenser compressor unit 2.. The outwardly open end of passageway I8 is located within a male fitting 24 which is externally threaded as at 26 for reception of a cap nut 28 by which the flared end 36 of .a suctionrconduit32 is securedto a tapered end portion 34 of the male fitting 24.

The other end'of the'conduit 32 is connected to the outlet header 360i an evaporator 38. The inlet header 40 of evaporator 38 is connected by conduit 42 to the liquid line valve. l2.. The conduit or tube 42 may be of small borewhereby its innate resistance to flow of fluid will meter the refrigerant supplied to the condenser 38 from the condensing unit I. If desired, the tube 42 could be of larger bore and a usual feed device such as an expansion valve could be used, if desired.

l6, its passageway I 8 is sealed closed adjacent its outwardly open end by means of a cup-shaped frangible seal which is suitably sealed in fluidtight relation thereto. The adjacent end of the tubing 32 is closed by means of a frangible diaphragm 62 sealed within the bore of" tube 32 adjacent theinner end of the flare 30. The service valve l6 has a valve stem 64 threaded as at 66 for threaded engagement with internal threads 10 of body 68 to provide for reciprocal movement of the stem 64 relative to the valve body 68.- Suitable packing 12 and a packing gland 14 is provide to prevent flow of fluid along the valve stem 66 outwardly of the casing or valve body 68. The neck portion of the valve body 68 is externally threaded as at IS-for'rec'eption of the usual stem capping nut 17 which may be screwed thereon when'the valve stem 66 has been set in the desired position.

The valve stem '64 is provided with oppositely facing frusto-conical surfaces 18 and which engage respectively with valve ports 82 and 84 for preventing flow of fluid through the valve passageway 18 or the valve passageway 20. The

valve stem 64 is'further provided with an extension 86 having on its forward end a seal piercing element 88 which resembles the cutting end of a fluted drill. Upon inward movement of the valve stem 66, the piercing element 88 engages the seals 69 and 62 whereby they are ruptured and further movement of the piercing head 88 causes these seals to be folded in telescopic arrangement with the inner wall of the conduit 32 as shown in Fig. 4.

Similarly, the liquid line valve I2 is connected to the tubes I and 42 and is provided with a valve stem 90 having a port engaging surface 92 cooperable with a valve port 93 for preventing flow of fluid through the valve outlet passageway 94. The stem 90 is provided with an extension; 95 which has on its forward end a seal piercing member 96 similar to the element 83 which is" adapted to pierce a cup-shaped seal 9'1-which is sealed within and closes the outlet passageway 94 of the liquid valve I2. Theinward'movement of the stem 96 also moves the member 96 to It will be apparent that with the' valve-stem- 66 of the valve I 6 in its position as'shown in Fig. 3'

with the seat engaging surface 89 in engagement with the valve port 84, and prior to rupturing of the seal 60, both the outlets I8 and will be closed against leakage of .fluid outwardly of the valve from the common passageway 22. Also, the ends of the conduits 32' and 42'will be sealed against flow of fluid externally into or out of these conduits. After assembly ofthe conduits to the valves as by the cap nuts 28 and 48, the

valve stems 66 or 96'maybe rotated to. move them inwardly into their respective valve bodies for piercing or rupturing the seal and for folding the seals to provide a fluid flow passageway between the valves and the conduits with which they are connected. Subsequent to rupturing of the seals, the valve stems 66 and 90 may be movedbackto the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, whereby the valves are communicativelyconnectedwith the conduits with which they are associated. The

valves I2 and I6 subsequentto rupturing of the respective seals, maybe operated inthe usual and conventional manner.

It is believed that it will be apparent from the foregoing that by the use of applicants invention, various refrigerating components of acomplete apparatus may be shipped, disassembled condensing unit I fully charged so that whenassembled with the evaporator 38 and the seal ruptured, the system is ready to function. It will be apparent, however, that if desired the evaporator 38 could be precharged with. a normal v desired charge of refrigerant and the condensing unit I be conditioned so that when the evaporator 32 is connected thereto and the seals 69, 32, 91 and 98 ruptured, as described above, the system will be ready to operate.

What is claimed and is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In an assembled fluid conveying apparatus, a valve body having a pair of openings connected by means of a passageway, said passageway being provided with a valve port aligned with one of said openings, a valve stem concentrically positioned relative to said one opening and said port, a port closing member carried by said stem and engageable with said port to restrict flow of fluid therethrough, a fluid conveying conduit having an internal passageway opening outwardly through one end thereof, means adapted to secure-said conduit one. end to said body with said conduit passageway in alignment with said body one opening, v.a first frangible member sealing said conduit passageway closely adjacent said conduit one' end, a second cup shaped frangible member sealing said body one opening with said second member facing inwardly into said body passageway, a rupturing and. forming element carried by said valve stem forwardly of saidport closing member and operable upon movementof said port closing member toward port closing position tov extend into said conduit to rupture said frangible members and to fold said frangible members in telescopic arrangement against-the wall of said conduit passageway.

2. In combination a pair of refrigerating system elements, each of said elements having an opening through a wall thereof, said openings being adapted to be arranged in juxtapositionto permit flow of refrigerant between said ele' ments, attaching means clampingly securing said walls in contacting engagement with each other,

each said element being provided with a-frangibleseal locatedadjacent its said wall and individually closing its respective opening, said seals being adjacent outermost portionsof'the engaging; portions of said elements whereby when said walls are in engagement the space between said seals is substantially eliminated, and rupturing means carried within one of said elements on the side of said one element seal away from the other of said seals for rupturing both said seals to'initiate fluid flow between said elements.

3. In a sub-assembly for a refrigerating system, a refrigerating system component comprising means forming a refrigerant containing structure having an inlet and an outlet connection adapted to be coupled to another portion ofthe refrigerating system, at least one of said connections comprising a portion of fluid conveying conduit having an end wall adapted't'o be connected to a matingv element in suchv system portion, a frangible member carried by and sealed in fluid tight relation to said conduit closely adjacent said end wall to prevent undesired ingress and egress of fluid, said frangible member being rupturable to place said conduit.

inopen communication with such mating element, and means closing the other of said connections against undesired ingress and egress of fluid through said other connection.

4-. In a: sub-assembly for a refrigerating sys tem, an evaporator, an inlet conduit and an out.-

let conduit secured to said evaporator in fluid system, apair of frangible diaphragm members; i

said frangible members being individually .se-i

cured in fluidtight relation toeach of said conduits closely adjacent the end wall of said con.- duits at said free end portion.

5. In a sub-assembly for a refrigerating sys: term, a refrigerating system component comprising means forming a refrigerant containing structure having an inlet and an outlet connection adapted to be, coupled to another portion of the refrigerating system, at least one of said connections comprising a body having an end wall adapted to be connected to a mating element in uch system portion, a frangible member carried by and sealed in fluidtight relation to said body closely adjacent said end wall to prevent undesired ingress and egress of fluid through said one connection, said frangible member being rupturable to place said one connection in communication with such system portion, means closing the other of said connections against undesired ingress and egress of fluid through said other connection, and rupturing means carried within said body for rupturing said frangible member.

6. A seal for a fluid system comprising a length of tubing terminating in an outwardly flared end portion, a frangible sealing member fixed within said tubing at a position spaced from the outer end of said flared end portion, and an attaching member surrounding said flared end portion and adapted to be connected to a mating portion of said system to hold said flared end portion in fluidtight relationship with said mating portion.

7. A sealed fluid system comprising a length of tubing terminating in an outwardly flared end portion, a body member having a, fluid passageway opening outwardly through a wall thereof, an attaching member surrounding said flared portion and connected to said body member wherebysaid flared portion and said passageway are aligned substantially co-axially, said attaching member having a shoulder engageable with said flared portion to hold said flared portion in fluidtight relation with said body member, a first frangible sealing member fixed within said tubing at a position spaced from the outer end of said flared portion, a second frangible member fixed within said passageway at a position adjacent the outer end thereof whereby when said flared portion and said body member are in engagement, the space between said seals is substantially eliminated, and rupturing means carried within said body on the side of said second frangible member away from said first frangible member for rupturing both said frangible members to initiate fluid flow through said tubing and said passageway.

8. In a connection for a fluid system, the combination comprising a body member having a fluid passageway opening outwardly through a wall thereof, said wall being formed with a shoulder surrounding the opening of said passageway therethrough, a tubular element having an outwardly flared end portion, an attaching member surrounding said flared portion and connected to said body member whereby said flared portion and said passageway are aligned substantially co-axially, said attaching member having a shoulder engageable with said flared portion to hold said flared portion in fluidtight relationship with the shoulder on said body member, a first frangible seal fixed within said tubular element at a position spaced from the outer end of said flared portion, a second frangible seal fixed within the passageway ofsaid ,body adja-. cent the outer end thereof whereby when said flared portion and the shoulder on said body member are-in engagement the space between said seals is substantially eliminated, and rup-j turing means carried within said body on the;

side of said second seal away from said flrst seal for rupturing both of said seals to initiate fluid flow through said tubular element and said pas-i E Y-Z i 9. In a connection for a fluid system, the combinationcomprising a body member having a fluid passageway opening outwardly through a wall thereof, said wall being formed with a shoulder surrounding the opening of said passageway therethroug-h, a tubular element having an outwardly flared end portion, an attaching member surrounding said flared portion and threadably connected to said body member whereby said flared portion and said passageway are aligned substantially co-axially, said attaching member having a shoulder engageable with said flared portion to hold said flared portion in fluidtight relationship with the shoulder on said body member, a first frangible seal fixed within said tubular element at a position spaced from the outer end of said flared portion, a second frangible seal fixed within the passageway of said body adjacent the outer end thereof whereby when said flared portion and said shoulder on said body member are in engagement the space between said seals is substantially eliminated, a rupturing member mounted in said passageway, said rupturing member having a portion thereof located exteriorly of said body member and a rupturing portion within said passageway, said rupturing member being movable axially of said passageway in response to force applied to said exterior portion so as to rupture both of said frangible seals to initiate fluid flow through said tubular element and said passageway.

10. A connection for a fluid system comprising a length of tubing terminating in an outwardly flared end portion, a first frangible seal fixed within said tubing adjacent the inner end of said flared portion, a body member having an internal passageway opening outwardly through a wall thereof, said wall being provided with a seating surface surrounding the opening of said passageway therethrough and against which said flared portion seats, a second frangible seal fixed to said body member in said passageway, the outer surface of said second frangible seal being substantially co-planar with the outer surface of the portion of said wall adjacent said passageway opening, means carried by said tubing for connecting said flared end portion to said seating surface of said body member, and rupturing means mounted in said passageway and operable externally thereof for rupturing both of said frangible seals.

11. A connection for a fluid system comprising a length of tubing terminating in an outwardly flared end portion, a first frangible seal fixed within said tubing adjacent the inner end of said flared portion, a body member having an internal passageway opening through a wall thereof and an internal valve seat surrounding said passageway, said wall being provided with an external seating surface against which said flared portion seats, a second frangible seal fixed to said body member in said passageway, the outer surface of said second frangible seal being substantially co-planar with the outer surface of the portion of said wall adjacent said passageway 7 8 opening, meanscarried by. sa,id'.tubing--for--con- Number 5 Name Date necting said fiared end' portion to said seating 1-,082;5=12:* Gainer Dec. 30, 1913: surface of said body member, and a, rupturing 1;703,31*1- 'Litle Feb. 26, 1929 member mounted in said passageway'and-oper- 3 3 0 Jdhn'ston Mal. 1931 able-externally thereof for rupturing-both-0f--said 5 1, 79, Marl et p 1 frangible seals, said rupturing member having 2120,2 18 Hinchman June 14, 1938 a, valve-seating element adapted to engage-said 2205,938- Ward- June 25, 1940 internal valve seat subsequent to the rupturing- 2,338,953. Melke Jan. 11, 1944 of said" frangible seals. 23873353 Raymond Oct. 23, 1945 CHARLES L. CURTIS; 10 2, 50; 61 Waflach Oct. 5, 1948 2,504,569 Murphy et a1. Apr. 18, 1950 References Cited. in, the fileof thisrpatent UNITED STATES; PATENTS 

